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Welcome to the weekly newsletter that brings you the most interesting and significant facts from Grateful Dead History, along with reviews of the music for the week ahead! The idea is to give all you Heads a "Heads up" on the interesting and cool stuff the Grateful Dead were up to on this week in history! So tell me what you think!

I found myself short on time again this week (as usual, lol) but here's the highlights for Issue 25, for the week of July 15th, 2024 so check it out:

July 15th

7/15/84 Greek Theatre, UC, Berkeley, CA - A really excellent show that has a bunch of fun moments. The 3rd of an epic 3 show run. It's hard to top the 7/14 but they did their best to try! 1st set highlights are "Dancin' > Bird Song", and "Ramble On Rose". 2nd set highlights are "Why Don't We Do It In The Road > China Cat > I Know You Rider", "Playing > Uncle John's Band", "NFA".
7/15/88 Greek Theatre, UC, Berkeley, CA - A nice show that features some inspired playing and singing from the band. They're all in sync here and except for a little lyrical mumbling by Jerry here and there, it's a really fun show. 1st set highlights include "Shakedown > Walkin' Blues", and "Cassidy > Bertha" for a high-energy closer. 2nd set highlights are "Scarlet > Fire", and "Wheel > Gimme Some Lovin' > Morning Dew".

July 16th

7/16/70 Euphoria Ballroom, San Rafael, CA - Not all of this circulates, but we have the most important part: "Lovelight" with Janice Joplin. It's a lot of fun to hear this version and pretty much the only reason I'm including this one. It's a lengthy, but sparse, fun version with a lot of rapping between Janice and Pig. "It ain't music but it's a lot of fun, man!" She proclaims at one point. I agree! This must have felt a lot different from her normal performance which was very vocally intense on her. But then again, she had the pipes for it. The second set isn't bad, it's actually pretty good. It's just nothing earth-shattering. I do like this version of "Attics" here. You can find the second set on SHNID 32575, which seems to be the only source in circulation for it and.
7/18/72 Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT - This was the band's second US appearance after their incredible Europe tour. Much of the magic of that tour is carried over here, and there are some outstanding moments to be had. Unfortunately most of the fist set (including the first ever performance of "Half Step") only circulate in a rough audience recording. Too bad, because this "Half Step" is an outstanding version of the song and I hope the soundboard recording shows up some day. The 2nd set is available in very nice soundboard quality. Highlights are "Other One > He's Gone > Other One", and the end of the second set where Dickey Betts and Berry Oakley join for "NFA > GDTRFB > Hey Bo Diddley".
7/16/76 Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, CA - The 4th of 6-show run. These shows were the triumphant return of the band to their home town after their year-and-a-half hiatus. All the playing is polished with nice renditions of every song. Some people feel the band at this time period is too mellow with slower tempos, but there are some excellent high-energy delivery here, and some incredible jams to boot. 1st set highlights are "Cold Rain & Snow", "Big River", "Brown Eyed Women", "Peggy-O", and "Music > Scarlet". 2nd set highlights are "Playing > Stronger Than Dirt > Cosmic Charlie > Samson > Spanish Jam (Jam Anthem version).
7/16/88 Greek Theatre, UC, Berkeley, CA - Get this one for the "Music > Sugaree" 1st set opener. It's outstanding. Other highlights are "Far From Me", "Bird Song". 2nd set highlights are "China Cat > I Know You Rider", "Terrapin", "Other One > Stella Blue" and "Knockin'" encore.
7/16/90 Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY - An excellent show with a lot of great moments. 1st set highlights are "Hell In A Bucket", "Half Step", "Loose Lucy", "High Time", "Let It Grow > Don't Ease". 2nd set highlights are "Sugar Magnolia > Scarlet Begonias > Women Are Smarter", "Truckin' > Jam", "Wharf Rat > Around & Around > Sunshine Daydream" and the "Brokedown" encore.

July 17th

7/17/76 Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, CA - Officially released on Dave's Picks Volume 18. This outstanding show features classic '76 playing style and song arrangements. This was the 5th of a 6-show run, and many people feel it was the best one. A solid first set is highlighted with "Half Step", "Deal", "Peggy-O", "Big River", "Sugaree", Johnny B. Goode". 2nd set highlights are "Comes A Time > Jam > Drums > Other One > Eyes > Other One > GDTRFB", and the 14 minute "NFA" second encore.
7/17/82 Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura, CA - 1st of a 2-show run. An excellent show that features some fine playing and energy as well as a nice surprise. 1st set highlights are "Bertha > Greatest Story", "They Love Each Other", "Me & My Uncle > Big River", and "Truckin'" - the only time they ever closed the first set with this song. 2nd set highlights are "Playing >. China Cat > I Know You Rider", "Playing" reprise and "Baby Blue" encore.
7/17/89 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI - Officially released on Downhill From Here. This entire show is outstanding. This is the first of a 3-show run. The first set is n the longer side (10 songs). Highlights are "Let The Good Times Roll", "Cumberland Blues", "Masterpiece", "Push Comes To Shove", "Music Never Stopped". The energy and momentum carry over into the second set. Highlights are "China Cat > I Know You Rider > Playing > Uncle John's Band > Standing On The Moon". People at the show recall a full moon rising above the venue during the song. Post-D/S highlights are "GDTRFB > NFA", "And We Bid You Goodnight" (766 show breakout - last time played was 12/31/78!), and "Johnny B. Goode".

July 18th

7/18/72 Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ - An outstanding 3-set show from beginning to end. 1st set highlights are "Bird Song", "Black Throated Wind", "China Cat > I Know You Rider". The second set kicks off with a standalone "Playing", but it's nicely jammed out. A nice "Brown Eyed Women" comes next, followed by a standout "Tennessee Jed". Then the band jams opens (pun intended) the portal to space with a killer "Truckin' > Dark Star > Comes A Time". 3rd set highlights are "Sugar Magnolia", and "NFA > GDTRFB > NFA" to close out the set.
7/18/76 Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, CA - The 6th of a 6-show run, and a very good show. Most people agree the second set is so good it overshadows the first set. For the first set, I like "Half Step", "Scarlet Begonias", and "Music Never Stopped". 2nd set highlights are "Might As Well", "Samson", "Lazy Lightning > Supplication" (Jam Anthem version) and the rest of the second set, which is a fun ride throughout!
7/18/82 Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura, CA - 2nd of a 2-show run. The boys are back at the Fairgrounds and they deliver another hot performance. 1st set highlights are "Minglewood", "Loser", "Cassidy", and "Deal". 2nd set highlights include "Samson (Jam Anthem version) > Franklin's Tower, "Crazy Fingers", "NFA > Other One > Wharf Rat > Sugar Magnolia".
7/18/90 Deer Creek Music Center, Noblesville, IN - Officially released on Dave's Picks Volume 40. Night 1 of 2 at Deer Creek and this is an outstanding show. You can't go wrong with a "Help > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower" opener! And it's a good one, too. Pretty much the entire set is a highlight, but I like "Minglewood", "Masterpiece", "Brown Eyed Women", "Cassidy", and "Deal". The 2nd set highlights are "China Cat > I Know You Rider", "Terrapin > Jam", "Other One > Morning Dew", and "The Weight" encore.

July 19th

7/19/74 Selland Arena, Fresno, CA - Officially released on Dave's Picks Volume 17. This massive Wall Of Sound show features classic '74 brightness and jamming throughout. 1st set highlights are "Bertha", "Scarlet", "Playing In The Band". 2nd set highlights are "He's Gone", "Weather Report Suite > Let It Grow > Spanish Jam (Jam Anthem version) > Eyes > China Doll. Incredible stuff!
7/19/90 Deer Creek Music Center, Noblesville, IN - Except for "U.S. Blues", entire show officially released on Dave's Picks Volume 40. "U.S. Blues" was added to Dave's Picks Volume 41. Night 2 at Deer Creek and the band is back for another excellent show, although I personally like 7/18 more. 1st set highlights are "Jack Straw", "Desolation Row", and "Promised Land". The second set is unusual due to song selection pre-D/S. Kicking off with a powerful "Victim" which leads nicely into "Foolish Heart". They immediately pivot to "Playing" which is a fan favorite. It's nicely jammed, and leads to a not-unusual "China Doll" which is played with conviction. But then they surprise the audience with "Uncle John's Band". This combo of "Playing > China Doll > Uncle John's" has only been performed 3 times in all of GD history: 7/10/81, 3/30/90, and this here show. So that is a nice rare treat. The other highlight I feel is "NFA" to close out the second set. It's a powerful version and the NFA chant continues all the way through the set break until the band takes the stage again.

July 20th

7/20/94 Deer Creek Music Center, Noblesville, IN - This is the only (known, anyways) show performed on this day in Grateful Dead concert history. So you get what you get, and what you get ain't bad! This is one of the best shows of '94, in my opinion, with strong energy and attention to detail on almost every song. 1st set highlights are "Stranger", pretty "Peggy-O", "High Time", "Memphis Blues" (58 show breakout, the only one in '94). You also get the first performance of "Childhood's End". but this Phil song never really developed IMO. 2nd set highlights are "Box Of Rain", "Here Comes Sunshine", the first performance of "Matilda" with vocals (it was performed instrumental on 3/21/94), "Uncle John's Band" out of "Space", and "Morning Dew".

July 21st

7/21/72 Paramount Northwest Theatre, Seattle, WA - Officially released on Grateful Dead Download Series Volume 10. The popular opinion is that the band went through a bit of a summer lull in terms of intensity from roughly 7/21 - 8/25. But again, it is 1972 after all, and even a "lull" from this year still produces great music and this show is a bright spot in that time frame. 1st set highlights include "Sugaree" (all circulating tapes cut in here), "Cumberland Blues", "China Cat > I Know You Rider", and some nice deep-space exploration during "Playing". It's not as long as 8/27/72 but is every bit as intense, IMO. 2nd set highlights are a rousing "Case Jones", "He's Gone" which is pretty sort but jam-packed with spirited playing, "Truckin' > Drums > Jam > Other One". "NFA > GDTRFB" which was supposedly played to close the set don't circulate but maybe they'll surface some day.
7/21/74 Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, CA - This show only circulates as an audience recording, but fortunately there are some outstanding tapes out there. I particularly like MOTB 0056 which is the Adam Egert transfer of the Rob Bertrando FOB tape. Or Charlie Miller's transfer (SHNID 88553) is really good too, and contains about 11 more minutes of recording. 1st set highlights are "Tennessee Jed", "Sugaree", "Jack Straw", "Half Step", "Scarlet Begonias". A lot of people like this "Seastones" because it's a lot of Phil. I agree, I like this one and I'm not generally a fan of "Seastones". I highly recommend listening with a subwoofer (or two, lol) to get the full "Phil effect". Well, that would be my advice for any show but you get where I'm coming from. Second set highlights are "China Cat > I Know You Rider", and the main course of "Playing > Wharf Rat > Truckin' > Nobody's Fault Jam > Playing".
7/21/84 Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura, CA - Imagine the Grateful Dead performing by the beach in SoCal, with palm trees swaying in the wind, and you can camp and swim all weekend. Sounds pretty freaking magical to me! People rave about this venue, and I can see why. This is the first of 2 shows at the Fairgrounds, and is a fine show with some great moments. 1st set highlights are "Shakedown Street", "Rooster", "China Cat > I Know You Rider". 2nd set highlights are "Truckin' (Jam Anthem version) > Eyes" and "Other One > Stella Blue (Jam Anthem version) > Around & Around > Saturday Night".
7/21/70 World Music Theatre, Tinley Park, IL - A nice show with some great moments and a nice "Playing sammich". 1st set highlights are "Greatest Story Ever Told" and "Bird Song". 2nd set highlights include "Scarlet > Fire", "Playing > He's Gone", "Crazy Fingers > Playing Jam > Dear Mr. Fantasy > Playing".

BTW, If you're not yet familiar with Jam Anthem versions of songs you can read all about it in Deadology II by Howard Weiner. Check it out here along with all his other great books.

And that's all for now! Of course, if you want to follow along in your very own copy of my book On This Day In Grateful Dead History: A Daily Listening Journal I still have some copies available here. Once they're sold out, I will have to decide whether or not I'm going to have more made. The costs of printing and shipping have gone way up in the last few years since I had them printed so I'm not sure if it's worth it or not. So get one now while you can! https://www.gratefuldeadbook.com/tigdh

Peace out my good people. Until Next week!

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